Aspen, a four-year-old black Labrador Retriever who worked as a service dog for YouTuber Corey Dixon, has died after a week long stay at a Toronto PetSmart.
Dixon vacationed in Muskola and says he took Aspen to PetSmart after being told it wasn't good to bring dogs to the vacation spot because of the bears. After returning from his trip, Dixon picked up Aspen at PetSmart and immediately noticed she didn't look well. He says that she was shaking, drooling, underweight, and sitting in a pool of vomit. Dixon told CBC:
We know that she was sick in PetSmart's care, we know that much. And that they didn't bother to call the vet when she should have been seen a lot earlier. If she'd seen the vet when she started showing signs of being sick, maybe she would have had a better chance.
Unfortunately, after rushing Aspen to the vet and undergoing treatment, she was put down a few days later after vets at the Oakville Emergency Animal Hospital were unable to treat her illness. Aspen's passing devastated Dixon, who relied on her services to monitor his heart condition. Aspen was trained to look after Dixon as his condition can cause him to pass out and knew to alert others if that should happen. In fact, Dixon credits her for saving his life three times.
Dixon said Aspen was more than just a service animal or pet; she was his family.
Iād be lying if I said I wasnāt extremely hurt by the death of Aspen. Iāll miss her so much. Iāve been crying all d⦠https://t.co/uFyAKnFkliā Corey Dixon (@Corey Dixon)1531704809.0
It's been a rough week for Dixon, who tweeted the entire ordeal as it unfolded.
Please read š and comment help/suggestions if you can. Thank you very much. ā¤ļøš¶ https://t.co/HHsONZKLOXā Corey Dixon (@Corey Dixon)1531081944.0
Update on Aspen: Sheās pretty sick at the moment, high blood pressure, currently at the Vet Emergency Hospital bein⦠https://t.co/VFEJhfYgvgā Corey Dixon (@Corey Dixon)1531094024.0
Iām literally so heart broken about how sick my service dog got.. @PetSmart I trusted my dog in your care and she l⦠https://t.co/E4lIl4XS05ā Corey Dixon (@Corey Dixon)1531100852.0
Aspen is on heavy IV fluids. She was completely healthy before we dropped her off at @PetSmart . She is now extreme⦠https://t.co/7X7esQQTuuā Corey Dixon (@Corey Dixon)1531162624.0
Today was Aspens 4th Birthday and sheās spending it very sick (see previous tweets) .. once she gets better we are⦠https://t.co/dHqdE7agCbā Corey Dixon (@Corey Dixon)1531182449.0
Please, please read and RT my last tweet. Aspens health is critical right now and this dog means the absolute world⦠https://t.co/cgAWrUAyZBā Corey Dixon (@Corey Dixon)1531605294.0
Sadly, nothing could be done for Aspen.
It is heart breaking to say that Aspen has passed away. My heart is crushed. She was loved by many. The remaining g⦠https://t.co/zKCRnU71Zsā Corey Dixon (@Corey Dixon)1531677303.0
Dixon's sadness turned to anger.
Just as I expected.. Petsmarts going to try to cover their ass. Just as corporations do. A dog got sick in your car⦠https://t.co/CPeJNfsQW8ā Corey Dixon (@Corey Dixon)1531690547.0
And he has the receipts to back it up.
Are you ready for this? 1. No one from Petsmart has been in contact with us since Aspens death, nor do I even want⦠https://t.co/KIJotswlscā Corey Dixon (@Corey Dixon)1531784282.0
So, I promised Iād release it. This is the official vet report from Aspens regular vet only 4 DAYS prior to going i⦠https://t.co/GM7RKvu4aaā Corey Dixon (@Corey Dixon)1531837886.0
There has been an outpouring of condolences for Dixon.
@CoreyDixon33 @CTVToronto @CP24 @HayleyBCooper @BarbDGtoronto @TwitterCanada @CityNews @680NEWS @TorontoStar⦠https://t.co/Q8M64oJPcOā factsVfakeā#VetsResistSupportSquadron (@factsVfakeā#VetsResistSupportSquadron)1531678225.0
@CoreyDixon33 @CTVToronto @CP24 @HayleyBCooper @BarbDGtoronto @TwitterCanada @CityNews @680NEWS @TorontoStar⦠https://t.co/P3uXJg3q5Oā nick tangorra (@nick tangorra)1531709972.0
We hope that PetSmart will do the right thing.
H/T: CBC, Toronto Star